Device for converting discarded beverage can into well type ash tray



Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN mo WELL TYPE ASH TRAY 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1954 E INVENTOR. W/LL/AM M PUl/QGEL-ATTOP/VEVJ Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN INTO ,WELL TYPE ASH TRAYFiled Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I] INVEN TOR. l l /L L/AM MPUI/OGEL I 1 15 3 Y fun/FA Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN INTO WELL TYPE ASH TRAYFiled Sept. 21, 1954 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 FARE? INVENTOR. WILL/AM M PUVOGELA T TORNEVS Uni d DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVER- 5 AGE CAN INTOWELL TYPE ASH TRAY The present invention relates to a device forconvert- 15 ing a discarded beverage can into a well-type ash tray.

The use of tin cans for containing beer and carbonated beverages hasincreased tremendously during recent years and is still on the increase.As a result, empty cans of this character usually are available atparties, picnics, and in many households and other places where smokersare present. It is well known that when several persons are seated at atable where some of the members are smoking discarded cigar andcigarette butts frequently create unpleasant odors. 25

Well type ash trays in general are not new, but such ash trays usuallyare expensive, and frequently are rather bulky, so that it is diflicultto store a large number of them in a small space.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a combined cancutter and ash tray assembly for converting a discarded beveragecontainer into a well-type ash tray.

The invention also provides an ash tray having a projecting can cuttingblade thereon for making a slotted opening diametrically of the top of adiscarded, previously opened, beverage can, the blade being arranged toenter the can to serve as an anchor for the ash tray mounted thereon,the ash tray having a tiltable portion for dumping ashes and cigarettebutts on the tray through the slotted opening into the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined can cutter andash tray with a spreader for separating the severed edges of a can topto provide a slotted opening therein, an ash tray being mounted on thedevice.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device forconverting a discarded beverage can into a well-type ash tray.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings, whereinFig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying the present inventionas it appears when mounted on a conventional tin can.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the arrangement shown inFig. 1, the ash tray portions of the device being shown, in solid lines,in folded, ash discharging condition, and in broken lines, in open, ashreceiving condition. 60

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a discardedcan with a device embodying the present invention in the act of severingthe can top diametrically thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the combined cutter bladeand handle member of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, thepointed lower end of the blade being inserted in a previously madeopening in the top of a discarded tin can, a curved wire can spreadingmember being shown in broken lines, and an ash tray support rivet beingshown removed from the blade.

Fig. 5 is a plan view in reduced scale of a discarded tin atent can, thepreviously made openings being shown outlined in solid lines, the linesalong which the can top is cut and bent by the device of the presentinvention being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the curved wire spreading device forhooking onto an inturned ear of a discarded tin can and for spreadingapart the marginal portions of the can top on opposite sides of the lineof can top severance, a triangular ear formed during the original openinof the can being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view of the can top spreading wire deviceshown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the assembled device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the ash tray portions thereof being shown in open ash receivingcondition.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the folding ash tray structurealone.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a corrugated wire cigarettesupport.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the inventionin the act of cutting and bending a can top for admission of the cuttingblade as an anchor therein,

the device being shown in broken lines in its position of initialinsertion into the can, and in solid lines at the completion of a cantop severing stroke, a portion of the can being broken away.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the can top cutting andbending blade shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary left hand elevational view of the lower portionof the device shown in Fig. 12, a portion of the can being broken away,and an ear of the broken away portion being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the device of Figs. 11 and 13after the completion of the can top severing stroke at the point wherethe enlarged rolled upper portion of the cutting blade is being forceddownwardly through the severed can top to spread apart the severed edgesthereof, the can being shown in section.

Fig. 15 is a left hand elevational view of Fig. 14, a portion of the canbeing broken away.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a can showing the device tilted so as toposition the spreading-roll portion of the blade in vertical alignmentwith the triangular contents removing hole in one side of the can tofacilitate removal of the device from the can.

In general, the invention provides a device A for converting a discardedcan B of the type used for beer and carbonated beverages into a welltype ash tray. The device A comprises a combined cutting blade andsupport standard 20 having a blade portion 21 thereof formed to enter apreviously made triangular hole 22 in the top 23 of the discharged tincan B, the cutting blade portion 21 being formed for severing the cantop diametrically and for bending downwardly the severed, side portionsof the can top and entering the can to anchor the device to the can.Folding ash tray portions 24 and 25 of the device are pivotally mountedon the member 2% to rest on top of the can B in which the blade portion21 is inserted so that ashes and cigarette butts deposited on these trayportions will be discharged downwardly into the can through the severedcan top when the tray portions are swung upwardly alongside the upperend of the member 26.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and describing first the form ofthe invention shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, beverage cans B of thetype for which the present invention is intended usually are opened bycutting one, and sometimes two triangular holes 22 in the can top 23,and bending the triangular tab portion 25 formed in making each hole 22downwardly to lie along the can side wall 29. When only one such hole ispresent, the can top may 1 be severed its'entire width from the firsthole by the operation of the-device as will be apparent later herein.

The combined cutting blade and support standard has an inverted U-shapedupper portion 30,.which serves as ah-andle. The outer edges of the legs21 and 33 of this handle'p ortion 30 are spaced apart to fit within acan 34 are inserted in holesinot-shown) provided centrally.

of the. relatively, overlapping-ears 33 and 39 of the ash tray halfportions 24 and 25, pivotally to connect these ash-tray portions tothe-member 20 and to each other.

- The ash tray portions 24 and are formed with armate marginal rims 40around their outer peripheries, and

are-shaped, in plan, to conform to the'outline of the U- shaped upperhandle portion when folded upwardly alongside it'as shown in solid linesin Fig.2.

The straight inner edges 41 of the tray portions 24 and 25are'flushwiththe tray bottoms as best shown in Fig. 1 so that ashesorother litter deposited thereon may be dumped through the'slottedopening made in the can top 23 by the blade21 by folding the trayportions 24 and 25 upwardly to their positions shown in solid lines inFig. 2.

"A corrugated, cigarette supportingwire 43 ;may be mounted to'extendtransversely across each of the ash tray portions 24- and 25 tov providecradle support for a cigarette 44. (broken lines Fig. 2). The blade leg21 of the member-2Q has a substantially straight outer edge 45 withanotch 43 near the lower end thereof, and an armately curved, sharpenedinner cutting edge 49.

A notch Sllis provided near the upper end of thearcuately' curvedcutting edge'49 of the blade 21 to receive the reversely bent upper endportion 51 of a can top spreaderwire 52 (Figs. 6and 7). The spreaderwire 52 is mounted on the blade 21 spaced slightly back from andconforming to'the curved cutting edge 49. The upper end of the spreaderwire 52 is tapered to a generally Wedge shape to facilitate withdrawingthe device from a can after use. 7

The lower end portions 54 of the curved spreader wire 52'are benttodiverge angularly as shown in Figs.- 6 and 7, and are provided withnotches 55 therein, the lower edges of these notches being disposedat anacute angle to each other to conform to, and to receive therein, theside :edges 58 of one of the triangular tabs 28'cut from the can top 23when opening it.

:T he spreader wire52 is secured to the lower end of the blade portion21 by a wire ring 59 which encircles the lower end of the blade portion21 and the two sides 'of the spreader-wire 52 directly abovethe'divergent portions 54.(Fi'gs.'6 and 7); The wire ring59 fits intothe notch 43 .providednear the lower end of the blade portion 21 toretain the ring 59 against displacement.

In using the device A'the lower end of'the blade portion 21 with thespreader wire 52 thereon is inserted through a triangular opening 22(Fig. 5) in the top of a can B, and the notches 55 in the divergentlower end wardly into the can to force the short leg 33 of the member'20 down into the can so as to position the tray portions 24 and 25 intheir, outwardly swung, ash receiving condition as shown in Fig. 1 andin broken lines in Fig. 2 closely against the upper end of the can B. Insuch position, the unrimmed edge 41 of each ash tray portion overliesthe diametrical hole made by the blade 21 in the can top.

With the device thus mounted, either or both of the ash tray portions 24and 25 may be swung upwardly toward their solid line position of Fig. 2to cause their contents to gravitate downwardly through the openingprovided by the separation of the severed edge portions 61 and 62 of thecan top. V

Afteruse the device A maybe withdrawn from'the can, it being preferableafter withdrawing it sufliciently to free the short leg 33 from the cantomove the entire device A toward the rightas viewed in Fig. 3 so astoalign the wedge shaped upper end 51 of the spreader wire 52 with theright hand triangular opening 22, in the can, which provides adequateclearance for withdrawing the 1wire 52 without forcing it. Howevenifpreferred, the devicemay .be withdrawndirectly upwardly so as to draw.

' the wire 52'between the inwardly bent edges of the can top, in whichcase the Wedge shaped upper end portion 51 of'the wire'will spread thecan top edges sufiiciently to permit its withdrawal.

In the modified form of the invention Cshown inFigs; 12 to 16 inclusive,a combined blade and support standard 70 is generally similar to thefunctionally corresponding portion 20 of the device A shown in Figs. 1'to 4 inclusive.

Folding ash tray portions 71 and 72 ofthe device-C also may be similarto thoseshown at '24 and 25 in Figs. 1 to 3, 8 land 9. The cutting bladeleg 73 'of'the device B however, is modified substantially from theblade leg 21 of the device A. The blade leg 73 has a straight por- 1tion 74 with an inverted U-shaped handle portion 75 On is notched at 79and is bent at right angles 'at 80. The

- metal is twisted at 81 so that the notch 79 is directed upwardly asshown in Figs. 15 and l6'when the/device is used to sever the top of anupright can D.

portions 54 of the spreader wire52 are hooked onto the can tab 28depending from the outer side of theopening 22. With the zone ofengagement between the wireportions54 and the can tab 23 as a fulcrum,the entire. device the severed edges of the can top, thereby bendingdownwardly the marginal portions 61 and 62 of the can top on oppositesides of the line of severance 60.

.The device A then is swung back to upright. position,

The-notch 79 engages the triangular tab 82 of the previously opened canD and the sharpened curved cutting edge 77 severs the can topdiametrically as the device'C is swung from its broken line toward itssolidline position of Fig. 12.

A can cover spreader roll 84 is formed from an integral, upwardlyextending tab 85 .on the upper edge of the blade portion 78 so that asthe device C is swung. downwardly beyond its cutting position to thepositionshown'in Figs. 14 and 15, this spreading roll 84 will beforcedbetween the marginal can portions 87 and 88 (Figs. 14, 15 and '16) onoppositesides of the diametrical line of severance,'and

in so doing will bend these marginal can top portions.

downwardly to provide a slot'therebetween for receiving the contents ofthe ash tray portions 71 and 72 when dumped therein by folding up thetray portions as described previously herein for the trays 24-and 25(Figs.-

1 and 2).

Upon completion of the top severing and fiange 'spread- .ing'stroke ofthe device C, it will be in substantiallyiupright position as shown inFigs. 14 and '15, and'thereupon maybe pushed directly downwardly intothe can to position the tray portions 71 and'72 on the upperend of thecanin the same manner as that shown in Fig. 1

for the 'device A described previously herein. Thedevice C then maybeused inthe same manner as'that assuming that the can B is upright, andis-pusheddowndescribed for' theidevice -A.

When it is desired to remove the device C from the can D the entiredevice may be swung in a counterclockwise direction and then drawnbodily toward the left hand side of the can as shown in Fig. 16 toposition thespreader roll 84 directly beneath one of the originaltriangular holes 89 in the can D. The entire device C then may be liftedupwardly to withdraw the spreader roll 84 through the hole 89. However,the device may, if preferred, be withdrawn straight upwardly, forcingthe bending roll 84 upwardly between the bent marginal flange portions87 and 88 of the can top.

The device comprises a simple, extremely inexpensive device whichpermits rapid conversion of a discarded beverage can into a well-typeash tray which may contain liquid for quenching any smoldering cigar orcigarette butts which may be deposited therein. Since the can will bedisplayed prominently during such use, as well as any ad which may bedisplayed on the sides of the handle portions 30 and 75, the deviceserves also as a valuable advertising novelty.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood however, that various changesand modifications may be made in the details thereof without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined sizehaving a triangular opening in the top thereof with the triangular tabfrom said opening bent downwardly to lie alongside the wall of the can,a device for converting a can into an ash tray comprising a flatplate-like body, an inverted U-shaped handle portion formed on the upperend of the body with the sides of v the handle spaced to fit within thecan, a downwardly ex- I on the body portion at the juncture of the bladeand handle portions, adjacent terminal edges thereof being disposeddirectly above the diametrical line of severance of the top of the canwhen the blade is inserted fully into an upright can.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the ash trays are shapedto conform to the outline of the handle portion when folded upwardly tolie alongside said handle portion.

3. A device for converting into a well-type ash tray a discardedbeverage can having a triangular opening at a side of the top thereofwith the tab cut from the opening bent downwardly alongside the wall ofthe can, said device comprising a body member having an upper handleportion and a downwardly projecting blade portion, hook means adjacentthe lower end of the blade portion forengaging the triangular can flap'to fulcrum the device thereon for swinging the cutting edge of theblade downwardly to sever the can top diametrically thereof, edgespreading means mounted rearwardly of the cutting edge of the blade tospread apart the diametrically severed edges of the can top, an ash traytiltably mounted on the body between the handle and the blade portion tooverlie the can top when the blade is inserted its full length into anuprightv can, a terminal edge of the tray being positioned substantiallyin the plane of the blade to overlie the hole in the can top formed bysevering it and spreading the severed edges thereof, whereby thecontents of the tray may be gravitated into the latter hole by tiltingthe tray about its pivotal axis.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading meanscomprises a reversely bent wire, the reverse bend of said wire beinginserted in a notch provided therefor in the blade at the upper end ofthe sharpened edge portion thereof, and a wire loop encircling the lowerends of the wire and the blade to bind said wire ends to the blade.

5. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading meansconsists of a widened bent portion of the blade itself rearwardly of thecutting edge of the blade.

6. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading meansconsists of a tab .carried by the rear edge of the blade and curled toform a roll substantially wider than the blade thickness.

7. A device for converting into a Well-type ash tray a discardedbeverage can having a triangular opening at a side of the top thereofwith the tab cut from the opening bent downwardly alongside the wall ofthe can, said device comprising a body member having an inverted, U-shaped upper handle portion of an external width less than the internaldiameter of a can of predetermined size, for which the device isintended, and a downwardly projecting blade portion formed as anextension of one leg of the handle portion, the lower end of the bladeportion being formed for entering the triangular hole in the can top,notched means adjacent the lower end of the blade portion formed forhooked engagement with the triangular turned down can flap to provide afulcrum for swinging the cutting edge of the blade downwardly to severthe can top diametrically thereof, edge spreading means mountedrearwardly of the cutting edge of the blade to spread apart thediametrically severed edges of the can top, an ash tray tiltably mountedon the body between the handle and the blade portion to overlie the cantop when the blade is inserted its full length into a can, a terminaledge of the tray being positioned substantially in the plane of theblade to overlie the hole formed in the can top by severing it andspreading the edges thereof, whereby the contents of the tray may begravitated into the latter hole by tilting the side of the tray remotefrom the hole upwardly.

8. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined sizehaving a triangular opening in the top thereofwith the triangular tabfrom said opening bent downwardly along the wall of the can, a devicefor converting the can into an ash tray comprising; a blade portion of asize for insertion into the can, a hook on the blade for insertion intothe triangular can opening for engaging the triangular can. tab tofulcrum thereon for swinging the device thereabout, a sharpened cuttingedge on said blade for severing the can top diametrically as the deviceis swung about said fulcrum to carry the cutting edge downwardly intothe can, a can top spreading element on the blade rearwardly of thecutting edge thereof for spreading the severed edges of the can topapart, thereby to widen the slot formed in the can top by the bladesufficiently to pass a discarded cigarette therethrough, an ash traymounted transversely of the upper end of the blade for resting on thecan top when the blade is inserted fully into the can, an edge of thetray being disposed alongside and above the slot in the can top whereby,upon a predetermined tilting of the ash tray, ashes and cigarette buttsthereon will gravitate therefrom through the slot in the can top intothe can.

9. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined sizehaving a triangular opening in the top thereof with the triangular tabfrom said opening bent downwardly along the wall of the can, a devicefor converting the can into an ash tray comprising; a planar bladeportion of a size for insertion into the can, a hook on the blade forengaging the triangular can tab to fulcrum thereon for swinging thedevice thereabout, a

ing downward tilting of the'tray toa position at right angles to'theblade-whereby the tray rests on thecan top when the blade is insertedfully into the can, 'the tray terminating. along one edge of and abovetheslot in the can top whereby, upon :an upward tilting of. the tray, 15

ashes and cigarette"buttstheredn will gravitate therefrom through'theslotinthe can top into the can.

10. 'An'arrangemen't according to 'claim- 9 v lherein itwo similarashtraymembers are similarly mounted on 'oppg- '5 site sides'of the slotand are tilt'able in oppositel direcif tions-toward each'other. V V M hReferences Cited in the file of this 5 patent i T UNITED STATESPATE'NTsj J 912,411 Putney Feb. 16,-1909- 973,930 Fink Oct. 25, 19102,129,915 DuPont -Sept.. 13,1938 2,158,770 Bartlett May 16, 1939 rGordenier July 11, 1939

